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President-elect Barack Obama
may have appeared in newspapers across the world, but it is difficult to say
just how much international influence his new Democratic administration will
have once he takes office.

According to youth
interviewed around the globe, Obama’s attention will be in considerable demand,
as pressing international issues such as war, climate change, disease and
foreign policy continue to pose threats to a greater communal environment.

Zeinab Matkour, 17, of Hawally, Kuwait. Zeinab,
who is Pakistani, is in 11th grade at the Universal American School in
Hawally.

Youth Journalism International

Obama’s policy on AIDS is
important to Cyrilla Mulindi, a 19-year-old resident of East London, South
Africa. She said she hopes it will have a positive impact everywhere in Africa.

In Kuwait, Zeinab Matkour,
who is Pakistani, said the perception is that Obama has a better understanding
than previous presidents of the challenges faced by other nations.

Because of this, the new
American president “would be able to really influence the Pakistani government,”
Matkour said.

Alice Cordara,
17, of Genoa, Italy, said she hopes Obama’s military policy “will influence us
not to join wars we cannot afford or approve.”

Nolitha Namatovu Luzuka, 18,
a Ugandan who is a South African citizen living in East London, South Africa,
said elections there are coming soon.

Nolitha Namatovu Luzuka, 18, of East
London, South Africa. Nolithia, who is Ugandan, is a South
African citizen and a senior at the Clarendon High School for
Girls in East London.

Youth Journalism International

South Africa paid close
attention to the American election, Luzuka said, which she said could positively
impact the election there.

In addition to possibly
influencing the election, Luzuka said, Obama has a good policy on Zimbabwe,
which could help ease the problems that Zimbabwe is having on the rest of
Southern Africa.

Luca Capizzi,
18, of Genoa, Italy, said Obama will help his fellow Italians look more
positively at America.

Having made well-received
appearances in Europe prior to his election, Obama’s political star rose on the
global stage. And as the White House approaches, many adolescents see a new
chapter of international relations ahead.

One European appearance by
Obama last year included a significant speech in Berlin, where the
president-elect’s considerable oratory skills earned him comparisons to
President John F. Kennedy’s natural charisma.

But Obama’s rock star appeal
doesn’t work on everyone.

“I don’t think there will be
a change in Germany because of him,” said Anne Stolpe, 18, of Meschede, Germany.
“Obama doesn’t seem to be interested enough in Europe to really have a huge
impact.”

Other youth interviewed said
they didn’t think Obama would influence their own leaders.

“He won’t have an impact. We have [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel and she’s in
charge here,” said 19-year-old Philipp Küchler, 19, of Düsseldorf, North
Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Alessia
Ubaldini, 18, of Genoa, Italy, said Obama won’t wield much influence in her
country because Italian President Silvio Berlusconi “is always everybody and
nobody’s friend” and follows his own path.

Sixteen-year-old Sarah
Molloy of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, said Obama’s election will have “little
impact” on her country.

The outcome of the South
African elections in May will determine how much influence Obama has there, said
Christian Reinhard Müller, 19, because different leaders would deal differently
with the new American president.

Other young people are
hoping to see cooperation between their own leaders and Obama.

“His views and policies are
a bit like our new prime minister’s, so they might be able to join forces on
global warming and a group initiative,” said Paul Harris, 17, of Ballarat,
Victoria, Australia.

In Uttar Pradesh, 16-year-old Puneet Kapoor said because India is a leading
market for the United States, Obama and his administration should be helpful in
resolving global deals and other issues important to India.

Indeed, with a financial
crisis deepening on the home front, and numerous international issues continuing
to pose a significant threat to our greater, intercontinental safety and
stability, Obama definitely has his work cut out for him – just ask the teens of
the world.

Youth Journalism International
reporters in eight countries talked to more
than 30 young people
on five continents to find out what the election of
Barack Obama might mean for them, their nation, the
world and the future. Read this
special issue -- the
largest we've ever undertaken -- to find out what they
had to say on the eve of Obama's Inauguration as
president of the United States.

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